Our Founding Fathers, most of our greatest Presidents, and many great Americans in our history were in fact Socialists. This is according to the modern definition of Socialism.
The majority of Republicans, Tea Party activists, and conservative leaders today have been throwing around the words “Socialist” and “Socialism” to just about everything. It seems that any idea where the public is allowed equal access is considered socialist. It seems that any activity operated by the government on behalf of the public is considered socialist. Although I don’t want government to manage everything in life, I do believe that some government management and oversight of activities is sensible. Not all government activities are socialist.
In this article I will point out that their modern definition of Socialism is in fact the best of America. I will also point out that every idea embraced by our Founding Fathers and our greatest Presidents would be considered Socialist today - if we use the modern definition of Socialism.
1. “Of the People, By the People, For the People”.
This phrase was stated by Abraham Lincoln in reference to the essence of our country, and yet it would be called “Socialism” by Republicans of today. The Republican leaders today don’t believe that the people have a right to participate in democracy; rather, most Republicans believe in representatives (not direct democracy) who perpetuate the cycle of benefiting the elite at expense of the people.
The Republican leaders of today would rephrase Lincoln’s statement of America as “Of the elite, by the bribed representatives, and for the corporations.” Anything else would be considered socialism.
Yes, by modern definitions, Abraham Lincoln’s version of America would be called socialist.
In the public library system, books are owned collectively and shared among the community for free. This concept sounds like Socialism! And the library is managed by a local government entity, paid for by tax dollars. Clearly this is a socialist concept!
Do you know who created the public library system? Benjamin Franklin. Ben Franklin - that entrepreneur, inventor, witty statesman, and paragon of colonial America – he created the public library system. Was his creation of the public library system a socialist idea?
Also, here is a side note worth thinking about: The library system would probably not be created today. People would claim infringements on intellectual property. Yet Franklin made his fortune as a newspaper publisher and writer – intellectual property in printed form – and yet he had no problem with the idea of sharing information through a public library. This is something to think about when similar ideas are being discussed today.
If conservatives had their way they would abolish all public schools. Only the rich would be educated because they could afford to send their children to private schools, or could afford to have a parent stay home for home schooling. Furthermore, conservatives have told me -very specifically - that teaching students practical skills is a socialist idea!
Do you know who created the public school system? Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson believed that all towns must have a public school. The public schools were essential for all Americans to learn about civics, to develop good character, and to learn practical skills. Oh yes, in modern terms, Thomas Jefferson would be considered a socialist.
Parks are areas of land set aside by the government for the people to enjoy. These parks are paid for by taxes or use fees, and managed by a government entity. This concept sounds like socialism to many people today.
When discussing parks and natural spaces today, many conservatives would rather see all land be used for private industry, and allow large spaces to be owned only be the wealthy. Yet the land belongs to the people before it belongs to any business. Therefore all land is public land until the people decide to use it or sell it for another purpose.
The first major proponent of national parks was President Theodore Roosevelt. He saw the beauty of parks and believed Americans would benefit by being in the rugged outdoors more often. Roosevelt was a Republican, and born into wealth. Yet if you believe that setting aside land for public use is a socialist idea, then you also must believe that Teddy Roosevelt was a socialist.
Teddy Roosevelt also performed some other acts which modern Republicans would consider socialist. For example, Roosevelt created the Food and Drug Administration (a government entity which regulates a private industry). Modern Republicans would see this as an intrusion on private industry (and call it socialism), yet most other Americans would view this as a sensible move which protects the general public.
6. Printing Money
The Constitution of the United States authorizes the federal government to print money. This is contrast to the states or private banks printing money (which was common in those days). In modern times, Republicans would see this as socialism. Why should the federal government do something that private banks or individual states should do? Republicans today believe that banks should run free, and in this case it would mean printing their own money. Republicans would say that giving the job of printing money only to the federal government is a socialist proposal. I would argue that this is one task which is best left to the federal government, and is not socialism. And if you do think it is socialism, then all those men at the Constitutional Convention were socialists for having ideas such as these!7. The People versus the Financial Elite
The Occupy Protesters are protesting one common sense idea: that the financial elite who have stolen money, damaged businesses, and destroyed the economy have not been effectively taken to justice. The Occupy Protesters, and the 99% of the population the protesters represent, simply want financial criminals punished, money returned to proper owners, and no more taxpayer money given to these crooks (who use the people's money perpetuate their crimes).And yet, these ideas are called “Socialist” by Republicans and Tea Party Activists. In their minds, the ways of Mitt Romney, the Rockefellers, and Wall Street are the ways of America. Anything else is “Socialism”.
However, let us go back to the Presidency of Andrew Jackson. Prior to Jackson taking office, there was a national bank which was granted almost unlimited powers by the federal government. This bank was run by the financial elite of the day. Those elite used the bank to support political candidates they liked, and to refuse loans to anyone they didn’t like. Jackson believed this national bank was inherently un-American.
Andrew Jackson was a man of the people. He grew up as an ordinary American, without special privileges, and he despised any actions which benefited the elite at the expense of the people. Therefore Andrew Jackson fought this national bank with all his tenacity. Jackson eventually defeated the financial elite and their national bank – which was a great triumph for democracy.
In a series of speeches and letters he said things very similar to what Occupy Protesters are saying today. Jackson also complained that the rich and powerful should not have more influence in Congress than the average hard-working citizen, merely because those wealthy individuals can afford lobbyists and are able to take the personal time to influence Congress.
Such talk and actions from a President today would be called “socialist” and “communist”. I prefer to call it “democratic” and “egalitarian”.
8. Clean Water, Equal Access to Water
Water is fundamental necessity, and the person who controls the water controls society. Wars and feuds throughout history have been started over adequate water supply. Therefore equal access to water is essential. Yet to hear the conservative leaders talk about it, ensuring an adequate supply of water is another socialist idea.Under common law (as well as federal law and in every state law), no one is allowed to hoard water, to prevent people downstream from using water, or to pollute the general water supply. Anyone who lives downstream is allowed equal access to water. In addition, every citizen in a metro area can be ensured that community drinking water meets a minimum level of health standards.
Over the course of American history, there have been hundreds of civic leaders throughout the nation who created and served on government agencies which manage water supplies. These Americans have ensured that people in their region have equal access to water, enough water to meet their needs, and water that is safe to drink. If you believe that it is a socialist idea for a government body to manage water on behalf of the people, and to ensure adequate water supply for the future, then you must concede that these numerous civic leaders were socialists.
9. Transportation
Whenever public transportation is discussed, many conservatives adamantly state: “public transportation is a socialist/communist agenda – it is a plan to keep the people controlled and confined”. This is one on the most common, and longest held, charges of “socialism” or “communism” I have heard over the years. It is also one of the craziest.Let us take a look at another type of transportation system (and one approved by the conservatives): the Interstate Freeway System. These are highways which are built and managed by the government (rather than private land owners) for the public to use (oh my – the public!) rather than selected individuals (such as the elite). And it is “Free” for the public to use - the word Free is even in the name! (taxes yes, but no tolls, so daily travel is free).
Do you know who the visionary was behind the Interstate Freeway System? None other than President Eisenhower, a Republican! The man who fought Nazis (the German socialists) in the 1940s, and then communists in the 1950s, was also the man who developed this “socialist/communist” idea of "transportation which benefits the public"!
If public transportation systems like rail and buses are socialist ideas, then freeways and public roads which also benefit the public are equally socialist. And so is Eisenhower.
Therefore, the next time you hear any proposal for an effective transportation system, think twice before dismissing it as a nefarious plot.
Conclusion
Either all of these acts are examples of socialism, or none of them are. Either all of these great Americans were socialists, or none of them were.If you believe that the actions and views of Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Dwight Eisenhower were socialist, then you must concede that socialism is a good thing. You must concede that socialism is part of the American Character. You must agree that Americans should embrace socialism, fully and openly.
Otherwise, you should stop calling every proposal related to democracy, equality, and the good of the people as being part of a socialist or communist agenda.
Feb 12, 2012
